Parcel-post and merchandise protector.



F. J. & C. I. THRASHER. PARCEL POST AND MERCHANDISE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. I915: 1 206 618.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

am? If Tiaras/(a2 F. J. & C. I. THRASHER. PARCEL POST AND MERCHANDISEPROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 191'5.

5 1 2Q6 618 Patented Nov. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Swuom bow.

UNITED fiTATES FQr'lENT UFFIQE.

FRANKLIN J. THE/ASHER AND CATHARINE I. THBASHER, OF HALLOWELL, MAINE.

PARCEL-POST AND MERCHANDISE PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRANKLIN J. THRASHER andCATHARINE I. THRASHER, citizens of the United States, both residing atHallowell, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Parcel-Post and MerchandiseProtectors; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention .relates to parcel post protectors and merchandisecarriers, and consists more particularly in a framework constructed fordetachable mounting within mail bags, sacks and the like receptacles,where the same will form a strong and rigid structure, for receiving theknocks and crushing which would otherwise result in demolishing orinjuring the contents; and likewise consists of a collapsible frameworkwith an inner lining making a completed rigid receptacle for theprotection of its contents from injury by external force.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of theabove characteristics which will preferably be of open or skeleton workand connected together for collapse so that the same may be readilyintroduced within the bag or sack and removed, and when in positionforming a protector for the contents of the receptacle, but also may beso constructed as to make a complete collapsible receptacle of itselfwithout the use of bags or sacks, and when extended into position andclosed will form a rigid protection for itscontents.

Another object of the invention resides in equipping the improvedprotector with an automatic locking arrangement which will secure theparts to form a rigid structure when moved to full open condition, butwhich may be conveniently manipulated to release and permit the collapseof the device.

It is a further object of our invention to produce an economical deviceof the character designated, the parts of which are preferably lightsteel and connected together in simple arrangement.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafterdisclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail bag with ourimproved protector shown in dotted lines as fitted therein. Fig. 2 is anenlarged end elevational view of the device in partially collapsedcondition. Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device in the set-upposition. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the improved protector asshown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line55 in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of our improvedlocking device, and illustrated in looking position. Fig. 7 is a similarview disclosing the device in open position. Fig. 8 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. (l, and looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a front perspective view of amodified form of the invention in which the receptacle is permanentlyconnected to an exterior protecting framework. Fig. 10 is a rearperspective view of the same. Fig. 11 is a vertical cross sectional viewthrough the device; and Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, which disclose oneembodiment of the invention, 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicate posts or uprights,being preferably of angleiron construction or separate strips disposedat right angles and joined together by the angle braces 5. These postsare connected in pairs 1, 2 and 3, 4 by cross rails 6 and 7 to providefront and rear rectangular open frames; the rails being advantageouslybent at their ends about the respective posts and secured at theextremities by rivets or other fastening means 8. The front and rearframes so built up are joined together by links 9 and 10 pivoted on thefastening means 8, as clearly shown, although it will be understood thatthey may be secured by independent means if found necessary ordesirable.

At the ends thereof the posts are curled or rolled over to form eyes orbearings 11 revolubly grasping the longitudinal members 12 of endframes, which are completed by transverse members 13 joining the ends ofthe members 12 in rectangular arrangement." Such end frames areeconomically and preferablv of round bar construction, though I do notdesire to be restricted to the use of this particular material.

not interfering with .to expanded position by A pair ofrelatively-slidable bars 14 and 15 are connected between the front andrear frames at each side thereof, and advantageously in the diagonalposition shown 1n Fig. 3. The ends of said bars are overturned, as at 16and 17, to receive guides 18 and 19, and one bar 15 of each pair has anotch 20 in one edge thereof arranged to be occupied by a dog 21, whichis, with the guides 18 and 19, of a construction apparent from thedrawings without further description.

an arm 22 pivoted, as indicated at 23, on the bar 14; said bar being cutaway at 24 adjacent the dog 21 to permit the latter to enter the notch20 when the same arrives in reg1stry therewith, and otherwise said dogmay act in the capacity of a guide. The dog 21 is constrained to enterthe notch 20 by a spring 25 secured at one endto the guide 18, and atits other end to the dog; the manner of connection preferred being thatshown, though this is not essential.

The device, in a folded condition, is inserted through the mouth of a.mail sack, bag, or other like receptacle 26, where it is readilyreceived, as in Fig. 1; and once inside the same is setup or movedgrasping and sepa rating the front and rear frames or by resting thelower edge of the lower projecting frame, as in Fig. 2, on the floor orother support, and imposing upon the upper edge of the upper projectingframe the weight of the body or other force. It will be seen that thefront and rear frames will, under such action, readiIy'separate, thelinks 9 and 10 and end frames, pivoting thereabout and drawing the upperframe down until opposite the lower frame, when the parts will form abox-like structure of open or skeleton-work.

The bag body 26 will be distended and stretched over the framework inthat manner best illustrated in Fig. 1, and the device will operate toprotect the parcel post packages or other contents of the bag from jars,knocks, crushing, and the like harmful forces and abuses to whichreceptacles of this character are necessarily subjected during thecourse of transportation.

The improved protector will be manufactured in various sizes to fitlarge and small bags and receptacles, the relative sizes of bag andprotector shown in Fig. 1 being found to give. excellent results inpractice, the closing of the mouth of the bag.

\Vhen moved from the folded down or semi-collapsed position in Fig. 2,the bars 14 and 15 are moved relatively. and after the full opencondition has been :11I'l"'(l at the dogs 21 will, under the influenceof the springs 25, move into and occupy the The dog 21 is carried on thefree end of down or collapsed 2 notches 20; thus effectually locking theseveral parts against collapse and maintaining the structure firm andare released by operation of the hand.

By disengaging the dogs 21 from the notches 20, the protector may beconveniently collapsed or knocked down, and in such condition removedfrom the bag and transported elsewhere.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, that we have provided an improved devicefor insertion within sacks, mail bags, or other receptacles, the sameacting to hold the receptacle distended so that packages and articlesmay be conveniently loaded therein; and it is to be understood thatalthough we have shown this invention and described the same as appliedto mail sacks and the like, we do not desire to be restricted to thisuse, as the same may be employed in other connections and utilizedwherever a'common carton is required.

' Referring now more particularly to the modified form of the deviceshown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, the front frame is built up of a pairof posts or standards 30 and 31. preferably of angle iron construction,and the same are connected at their upper ends by an angle or other bar32. A pair of diagonal braces 33 and 34' and a similar pair of braces 35and 36 are also connected between the posts 30 and 31 above and belowthe center thereof, said braces being preferably secured together, asindicated at 37 and 38, to combine the several parts into a rigidstructure.

As more particularly seen in Fig. 10, the rear frame is similarly builtup of posts 39 and 40 connected by a bar 411 at their upper rigid, untilthe dogs.

length of metal of round bar construction and having their endsconnected togetherand concealed by sleeves 52. These end andintermediate frames, as just described, are connected to the posts orstandards to revolve therein and to permit thefront and rear frames tobe collapsed together when the receptacle is not inuse.

To the longitudinal members 48 and 49 of the bottom frame aresecuredflat metallic strips 52 and 53, in any suitable number. and joined tosaid strips, as at 54 and 55, is

a similar elongated strip 56 having its ends rolled over, as shown at 57and 58, to engage the transverse members 50 and 51.

Between the front and rear frames are diagonally connected therelatively movable bars 59 and 60, having their ends secured to guides(31 and 62 similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7 asbeing mounted in connection with the first form of our invention.Similarly, a dog 63 is carried by a pivoted arm 64: of one of themembers and yieldingly pressed to engage a notch in the companion memberwhen the device is moved to the set-up or expanded position as shown inFigs. 9 and 10. A spring (37), for urging the dog 63 to enter the notchwhen the same is brought in registry therewith, is, in this instance,preferably secured atone end to the bar 60, as shown at (36, and thesame having its opposite end secured to the dog in the manner clearlyshown.

The bag, sack, or other receptacle is indicated generally at 67, thesame being constructed with a mouth (38 and with means, such as a drawstring (59, for closing and securing the same closed. The bag 67 is, inthis instance, as clearly shown, fitted within the framework constructedas above described, and is arranged to be permanently secured thereto soas to form a completed receptacle which will be reinforced and protectedagainst injury to the contents thereof, as all rough usage will devolveupon the exterior framing. This bag or receptacle may be connected tothe framework in any suitable manner, as for instance that shown in thedrawings, where the upper side walls of the bag are formed with flaps 70and 71 to constitute casings in which are received the bars 32 and 4:1and the longitudinal members l8 and 49 of the top frame.

Similarly, along the bottom edge of one or more side walls of the bagbody 67 are formed tabs 72, 7 3, 74, for constituting casings receivingone or more of the longitudinal members of the bottom frame. It will beunderstood, however, that although We have shown and described the bagas being secured in the framework by such casing construction, we do notwish to be understood as restricting ourselves to this manner ofsecuring the same, as it is obvious that the bag may be connected to theinterior of the collapsible fran'iework in any manner found desirable ornecessary in practice.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritof our invention. and there ore We do not wish to be limited to suchfeatures except as may be required by the claims.

\Ye claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of front andrear frames, a

series of rigid single links having their opposite ends pivotallysecured to the edges of the respective front and rear frames forconnecting said frames to swing relatively and move to an offsetcollapsed condition, bearings on said front and rear frames, andone-piece end frames composed each of a single length of material bentinto rectangular shape and journaled to swing in said bearings,substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of front andrear open metallic frames composed of angle-posts and flat stripsconnecting said angle-posts, series of fiat rigid single links havingtheir opposite ends pivotally secured respectively to the adjacent postsof said front and rear frames for connecting said frames to swing andcollapse in offset relation, rolled ends on said posts, one-piece endframes journaled in the rolled ends on said posts and each being bentinto rectangular shape from a single length of round bar material, andmeans for securing said device in set-up position, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device as described, the combination of collapsible frames, andmeans for securing said frames in set-up position including a pair ofrelatively-reciprocating bars, a guide carried on the end of each ofsaid bars through which the companion bar slides, and complementalinterengaging elements on said bars for automatically securing the barsagainst relative movement when the frames are shifted to set-upposition. substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of framesconnected for collapse, and means for securing said frames in set-upposition including a pair of relativelyreciprocating bars, one barhaving a notch therein, and a pivoted spring-pressed dog on the otherbar adapted to engage the notch in the companion bar when brought toregister therewith, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a.plurality of frames, means connecting said frames for collapse, andmeans for securing said frames in set-up position including a pair ofrelativelyreciprocating bars having notches therein, guides on saidbars, a pivoted springpressed dog on one of said bars operating in thenotch therein and adapted to enter the notch in the companion bar whensuch notches are brought into registry, substantially as described.

6. In a device as described, the combination of a. pair ofjmetallicfront and rear frames each comprising posts, and rails connecting saidposts, links pivoted to said posts for connecting the frames forcollapse, end frames journaled to move in the ends of the posts, a pairof relatively-sliding bars arthe the latter to swing relatively into andout of an offset collapsed position, end frames journaled in said sideframes to swing I position frames against collapse, substantially"having their ends eachv plvoted to one of said frames for connectingtherein when the latter are shifted, and 15 means for securing saidframes in set-up lncludlng pairs of relativelyreciprocating-bars securedbetween said side frames and having notches therein, and

pivoted spring-pressed dogs on certain of 20 said bars operating in thenotches therein and arranged to enter the notches in the companion barswhen brought to register, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, We affix our signa- 25 tures.

FRANKLIN J. THRASHER. CATHARINE I. THRASHER.

